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(Courtesy Firestone Walker)
The Firestone Walker Invitational, which is returning to Paso Robles on Saturday, May 31, is one of California’s hottest tickets. It’s a legend on the West Coast and the finest brewery sponsored craft beer festival that we’ve ever attended.
Conceptually, the Invitational is brilliant. All the visiting brewers are friends of Firestone Walker and being invited to the event serves as an unspoken endorsement of what they’re all doing…It’s like Coachella for craft brewers – you don’t get onstage unless you’ve something special going on.
And on January 23, Firestone Walker announced this year’s lineup featuring an all-star cast of more than 65 breweries from around the world, which will include 15 first-time breweries, the most ever for what has long been considered “the best beer fest in the West.”
“The Firestone Walker Beer Festival attracts the best breweries in the world for a one-of-a-kind celebration of beer culture,” said Firestone Walker Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “It reflects our passion for supporting the ancient art of brewing, which is founded on community and bringing people together.”
(Adam Firestone, Matt Brynildson, David Walker at the Firestone Walker Invitational)
Attending breweries at the 2025 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival include first-time participants such as Minoh from Osaka, Japan; Hoppy People from Sierre, Switzerland; Horus Aged Ales from Oceanside, California; Panimoyhtiö Tuju from Finland; Single Hill Brewing from Yakima, Washington; Moksa Brewing Company from Rocklin, California; Uncharted Brew Co. from Antwerpen, Belgium; Alma Mader Brewing from Kansas City, Missouri; and Lawson’s Finest Liquids from Waitsfield, Vermont.
The 2025 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival will feature more than 300 highly curated beers; fresh bites from more than 20 award-winning restaurants; “Behind the Beer” brewer panel sessions moderated by the Brewing Network; and live music performances.
It’s almost too much fun.
Proceeds from the fest continue to benefit Paso Robles Pioneer Day, a beloved local nonprofit, as well as other local nonprofits such as the Central Coast Honor Flight, Estrella Warbird Museum and youth sports leagues.
“This is the 12th edition of the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival, and it just keeps getting better,” added Nick Firestone, who co-founded the brewery along with David Walker in 1996. “And we’re proud and we’re proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our friends to stage a celebration of beer culture like no other.”
Tickets go on sale at 10am PST on February 5, 2025. The complete list of breweries and ticket information are available HERE.
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